Chapter 35- The fine art of dating

“Well, first Harry you have to ask the parents’ consent to court the young lady. Then you must visit her, always in the parents’ presence mind you. Maybe, if you are lucky, after a month or two they will allow you to hold hands.”

He definitely didn’t have a month or two, the Yule Ball was right around the corner.

“You have to flirt with all of them. Let them know you could have the girl you want, or else they’ll think they own you. You have to make it clear that it’s a privilege for one of them to be chosen.” He couldn’t get one, how would he get all of them? “And don’t forget, no talking, thinking or having sex before you are two hundred. I’ll allow holding hands now.” Well, at least his dad and grandfather were on the same page.

“It’s useless. It takes years, and then some Quidditch player comes strutting along like he owns the place and gets her,” somehow Harry thought his Uncle was not talking about the Yule Ball.

“I am guessing you had some contradictory advice,” Remus said, hiding a smile behind his hand. He was sitting in an armchair in his office, leaning forward, his elbow propping his head up.

Harry scowled at him from the chair in front of him and cried, “Just a bit! They make no sense whatsoever! I am never asking, dad, grandpa and Uncle Sev advice again! Never!”

“No need to be so radical,” Remus said. “What do you want to know?”

“How do I ask a girl out?”

“Do you have someone in mind?”

Harry shrugged, “Cho is cute.” He offered.

Remus nodded, “Yes, she is. But do you know her?”

“Not really, no,” Harry said. “Just from the corridors.”

“If you were Ron or Neville, I’d say there would be no problem in taking someone you don’t know well. Because the Ball will be just that; a Ball. But you are a champion Harry. You will have to open the dance. You will be in constant scrutiny. It’s not a good idea to add to your nerves by taking someone you are not comfortable with.”

“So, I should ask a girl I know,” Harry said.

“That is what I would do,” Remus smiled.

Harry nodded pensively then looked at Remus and asked with a lopsided smile, “And who are you taking Uncle Moony?”

Remus gave a little start and straightened, putting on a very serious face and answered, “I am faculty Harry. I won’t be taking anyone.”

“But if you could?” Harry prompted.

“That is none of your business.”

“Are you blushing Uncle Moony?”

“Go do your homework you little prat.”

“Aw!”

XXXXXXX

“So I was thinking,” Harry said as he fidgeted with his school bag, “We’ve known each other since we were little.”

“Yes,” the pretty red-haired nodded.

“And you’ve always been nice to me. Even during that whole Heir of Slytherin debacle and my name coming out of the Goblet, you were one of the few people that didn’t say anything nasty or give me evil looks.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” she blushed. “And you were always nice with me too. I always remember when I was seven and we were at that fundraiser at the Ministry. You kicked Malfoy because he was making fun of me.”

“Yeah,” Harry said fondly. “Got grounded for that and everything, but it was so worth it. Well, anyway. I was thinking, that since we’ve known each other for so long, maybe you wouldn’t mind too horribly being my date for the Yule Ball?” he finished hopeful.

“Oh, Harry,” she smiled widely. “I’d love to.”

Harry grinned, “Okay then. Do you want me to meet you at your dorm or at the Entrance Hall?”

“I expect the Entrance Hall is better,” she said smiling.

“Great,” he said and turned to go back to his class. He looked back as he was leaving and waved, “Thanks Susan!”

XXXXXXXX

“Well done son,” Sirius praised as he helped Harry turn his hooves back into hands and feet.

Harry shrugged, wiping his sweaty forehead with the sleeve of his robes, “I thought by now I’d have something more.”

Sirius directed Harry to one of the couches that had just appeared, “It took Severus almost a whole year to master his form, and he is a grown adult whose magic fully matured.”

“Yeah, but Uncle Sev was undermining himself because he was afraid. Uncle Moony said he would have mastered it by Christmas if he hadn’t.”

“Again Harry, he is an adult. It’s not by chance that we only start teaching children at eleven, or why the more complex magic is only taught after sixth year. As your body grows so does your magic and you are capable of handling more complex magic. Look how tired these sessions make you,” Sirius pointed at Harry who was slumped on the couch, quite pale, “Severus never got that tired no matter how long he kept at it. It’s logical that you will take longer while your magic adjusts, but once you master it, it will come to you as naturally as breathing. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You are way ahead of where your dad and I were at your age.”

“I thought I did it faster because you helped me. You had to research how to do it,” Harry said puzzled.

“Puhlease,” Sirius snorted. “We had Moony doing the research. How long do you think that took? Two seconds, three if we want to exaggerate. No, what took longer was the transformation; it took us almost two years. You’ve been at it for less than four months and already managed to transform your hooves. James only managed that after about a year. Sure we were not Occlumens, that helps to get in the meditative state, but still you are quite powerful little Prongs,” he finished, ruffling Harry’s hair.

“My nickname will not be little Prongs, dad!” Harry warned with a scowl.

“Of course not, I am sure I can come up with something more embarrassing,” Sirius smirked and then asked nonchalantly. “Any luck with your egg?”

Harry’s face fell, “No, I can’t understand what all that wailing is. Can’t you tell me dad?”

“No, not directly I can’t, because of the oath,” Sirius said grimly. “But I can tell you this; sometimes you can only understand sounds in their natural habitat.”

Harry stared blankly at Sirius, “What kind of crappy lead is that?” he asked.

Sirius shrugged, “Think about it,” and as Harry yawned he added, “To bed with you.”

XXXXXX

Harry was shaking his golden egg to see if he could get any clue from it in the Gryffindor Common Room. He had already tried deciphering what the wailing was but had no luck. He tried muffling it with a pillow to see if the sound changed. Nothing. Apparently that wasn’t the wailing’s natural habitat. Puft, how would he know what the wailing’s natural habitat was? So he had resorted to shaking it. Hermione was looking at him weirdly as if saying, “Boys, how stupid can they get?”

“If you know something, please do help,” he said irritated.

“I don’t. But I don’t think shaking it will help!” she said annoyed.

Harry glared at her and kept shaking the egg. He stopped as he saw the back of the portrait open and Neville lead in a shaking Ron. Harry instantly dropped the egg and ran towards his friends helping Ron to a chair.

“What happened?” he asked.

“He just asked Fleur Delacour to the ball,” Neville said. Harry winced, yeah a seventeen-year old champion would not say yes to a fourth year.

“I don’t know what made me do it,” Ron cried. “I knew she wouldn’t go with me. But she was just passing and then I kind of blurted it out.”

“She is part Veela. She said so at the Wand Weighing. So maybe that’s why it happened,” Harry offered, rubbing his friend’s back. “It’s okay. There are still plenty of girls for you to ask.”

“Yeah, there are,” Ron said. “And it’s not like you two have dates yet.” Neville and Harry looked uncomfortable and fidgeted a little, “What? You do? How?”

“Well, I asked Susan Bones. Uncle Moony said I should go with someone I knew and a bunch of girls I’ve never talked to before were asking me just because I am a champion. I’ve known Susan since we were young and she’s always been nice. She was one of the few Hufflepuffs that didn’t blame me for Justin being Petrified or said I was stealing Cedric’s glory. So I asked her.”

Ron turned to Neville, “I figured the same. Go with someone I know, and well, she is very popular in her year and nice, you know. With the being a nice person. I promise I’ll be a perfect gentleman,” he said worried.

“Who did you ask Neville and why would I care if you were a gentleman or a git?” Ron asked bewildered.

Hermione snorted as Neville looked nervous and didn’t want to answer, “He asked Ginny. I was there when he did.”

“Ginny,” Ron leapt up, his face red, “My baby sister. Why didn’t you ask Hermione instead of Ginny? She’s a girl and your friend!”

“Because, Hermione is like a sister to me,” Neville said looking apologetically to Hermione. “Sorry, I don’t mean anything bad, it would just be weird. And Ginny is so nice.”

“But she is my sister!” Ron growled angrily.

“And you should be glad she is going with someone that will respect her instead of some random prat you don’t know,” Hermione snapped at him and Ron deflated. He looked at her, and then said:

“Say Hermione, since you are you know, a girl. And here we are. The two of us without a date, why don’t we go together?”

Now, Harry may be no expert with girls, but even he knew that wouldn’t sit well. Hermione’s lips pursed and she looked furious as she hissed:

“It just so happens, Ronald, that someone else figured I am a girl before you did,” and she stalked away. Ron looked shocked but then shrugged.

“She’s lying, she’s just angry, though I don’t really know why.”

Neville and Harry shook their heads and Neville offered, “I know Parvati hasn’t been asked yet Ron. She might want to go with you. But I would hurry before someone else asks her.”

XXXXXX

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Sirius bolted upright and scrambled out of the bed hurriedly, trying to disentangle himself from the covers. He ran out of the room, wand ready, not even exchanging glances with Remus, and kicked Harry’s door open. They both had their wands trained on… Dobby!

Sirius let his wand arm drop and said annoyed, “We need to stop meeting this way Dobby.”

The poor elf was twisting his hands around a small package, “Dobby is wanting to give Harry Potter his present sirs. Dobby is not meaning to scare anyone.”

“That’s fine Dobby,” Remus smiled kindly.

“Yeah, just don’t wake me like that again,” Harry said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, “Prod me or something. What time is it?”

“It’s early, Dobby managed to beat even Sirius this year,” Remus chuckled and Sirius huffed.

“Can Dobby give his present now?”

“Yes,  but wait just a sec,” Harry said, scrambling off the bed and going to his closet. He took a small package from inside. “I was going to stop by later to give you and Kreacher your presents like I do every year. So next year you know you don’t have to scare the life out of me, okay?”

Dobby nodded, his green eyes round, “Harry Potter sir is being too good,” he said taking his package and handing Harry one, which turned out to be a pair of mismatched socks.

“Do you like it Dobby? I got it in Hogsmead,” Harry asked as Dobby put on a small jumper Harry had gotten him. “You said you wated to get one.”

“Harry Potter is being very good. Thank you sir.”

“It was Uncle Remus’ idea,” Harry blushed.

“Thank you Professor sir, you is being very kind,” Dobby turned to Remus and he was blushing too.

“That’s fine Dobby. You’re welcome,” Remus said patting Dobby’s head.

“Hey, what about me?” Sirius cried, pouting.

“You is being very good too sir. Dobby is not meaning to forget you sir. Dobby is sorry,” Dobby said distressed.

“Don’t mind him Dobby,” Harry waved. “He’s just being a prat.”

“Hey, I am your father!”

“Which means Harry really knows you,” Remus said flatly. “Now Dobby, if you’ll excuse us, we have some Christmas traditions of our own.”

“Yes sir, thank you sirs,” and with that the little elf Disapparated with a crack, and Harry and Sirius joined Remus under the tree. This year Severus wasn’t there, they couldn’t risk it, but Harry would sneak out later to give him his gift under the Invisibility Cloak.

XXXXXXX

After breakfast, Harry had gone up to Gryffindor Tower to say Happy Christmas to his friends and after spending most of the morning there, they decided to go outside. Harry seized this opportunity to go and meet Severus, saying he would fetch his dad and Uncle, to which Fred and George were ecstatic-- a snow fight with the Marauders! As soon as he was out the door Harry got under his Cloak. He began to walk towards the dungeons, but when he was in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy he heard the tale tell clunk, clunk of Moody’s wooden leg. Harry panicked. Moody would see him. He would see the gift he was carrying. It was a rare Potions book and maybe he would realize for whom it was.

Harry hurriedly begged the Room of Requirement for a place to hide his gift. As soon as the door opened, he scrambled inside and found himself in a room the size of a large Cathedral. Its high windows were sending shafts of light upon what looked like a city with towering walls, built of what Harry knew must be objects hidden by generations of Hogwarts inhabitants. Harry hurried forwards into one of the many alleyways between all the hidden treasures until he stopped in front of a large cupboard that looked as if it had acid thrown at its blistered surface. He opened the door and noticed it had already been used as a hiding place for something in a cage. Its occupant long-since dead, and the skeleton had five legs. Harry stuffed the package behind the cage and slammed the cupboard’s door. To mark the spot so he could find it again, he extricated from the clutter a chipped bust of an ugly looking warlock from the top of a nearby crate. Then to make it really distinctive, he fetched a tiara that was lying nearby. He was about to put the tiara on the bust when he stopped dead. He turned it around, examining it closely and saw the inscription “Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure.” He had seen it beforeduring the many times he had been inside the Ravenclaw Common Room when he was younger and had been ‘helping’ Professor Flitwick. That tiara looked exactly like the diadem on Ravenclaw’s statue. Harry’s breath hitched. Was it this simple? Could this be Ravenclaw’s diadem, hidden here of all places, so unprotected? It couldn’t possibly be, but then Harry thought, if the rumors were correct there was someone that could tell him if this was Ravenclaw’s lost diadem.

In a change of heart Harry decided to risk it, he opened the cupboard and took his package out. He unwrapped the book, Uncle Sev would understand, and wrapped the diadem instead. It wouldn’t do for someone to see him with it. Harry hid the book again, he’d come back for it later, and stuffing the diadem in his pocket, he got under his cloak again. His heart beating fast as he left the Room of Requirement and went straight to the Marauder’s Quarters. He didn’t want to take any chances of someone getting that diadem.

XXXXXXX

“That’s what I call one hell of a Christmas gift,” Sirius said pleased as he relaxed in one of Albus’ comfy armchairs.

After Harry arrived babbling about a hidden room with a bunch of lost things, they finally managed to calm him down enough to explain and Harry showed them what he thought was Ravenclaw’s diadem. They scanned the supposed diadem, and it did give out the same aura as the previous Horcruxes, but they wanted to make sure that it really was a Horcrux. So after joining Albus and Severus in Albus’ office, Albus summoned the Grey Lady. It turned out the rumors were correct and the Grey Lady was a descendant of Ravenclaw, more specifically her daughter. The poor ghost told her tale, after some prodding from Albus asking to help in the quest to defeat Voldemort, and now Sirius understood why she always looked so miserable. But most importantly, she told them about another boy that seemed sympathetic to her tragedy, none other than Tom Riddle. Albus recalled a time when Riddle came for an interview for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, and coincidently after Riddle was denied the post, Albus never managed to keep a teacher of that class for more than a year. Riddle could have easily used the opportunity to hide the diadem-turned-Horcrux in a place where it would be lost and overlooked. And it almost was if not for, as Minerva would say, sheer dumb luck.

After the Grey Lady confirmed that it was indeed her mother’s diadem, Albus asked her to tell no one about this, as she was bound to serve him as Hogwarts Headmaster, and left asking them to make sure no one fought over it again. Albus fetched Gryffindor’s sword and handed it to Harry who just looked at it.

“You found it Harry, it’s only fair you are the one who destroys it,” so Harry did, stabbing the diadem right down the middle cracking it, and with that, all the Horcruxes were gone. Sirius thought they could breathe easily now as he sat down, but he missed Albus’ worried frown.

Before Sirius, Remus and Harry left to join the other students on the grounds, Harry turned to Severus and asked:

 “You’ll look for your book then Uncle Sev? I left a card inside it, so you’ll know you have the right one.”

“Of course I will, but it’s best you don’t get caught with such a book. And thank you. I’ve always wanted it.”

Harry smiled sheepishly and hugged Severus, “Happy Christmas Uncle Sev.”

“Happy Christmas Harry.”

Harry then hugged Albus and this time Sirius did notice that Albus’ tone was strained as he said “Happy Christmas” and he held on to Harry just a little longer than usual. Sirius frowned, but then shrugged it off as nerves because of the Horcruxes and the Tournament.

XXXXX

The afternoon had been fun. Remus and Sirius had ended up organizing the snow fight in two large groups as the Gryffindors were joined by a few students from the other Houses. Even some teachers joined, such as Vector, Sinistra, Flitwick and Sprout. The team that Remus led won, causing Sirius to sulk the rest of the afternoon. Harry had tried to cheer his dad up by saying Remus had an unfair advantage because he had chosen Fred and George to be in his team but that only served for Sirius to cry:

“Marauders wannabes are not better than a true Marauder.”

“But dad, Uncle Moony is a Marauder!” he tried reasoning, but Sirius just huffed.

Neville and Ron had joined their dates in the Common Room and Harry had left earlier to meet his in the Entrance Hall. Harry was pleased that Parvati had agreed to go with Ron, and even more pleased that Mrs. Weasley had decided to buy new dress robes for her children instead of the usual second hand ones. Ron was already nervous enough, and Harry knew that nowadays the Weasleys had more money than before Mrs. Weasley started working. So even if things were still tight with so many kids, they could afford some luxury now and then.

A tap on his shoulder caught Harry’s attention and he turned and smiled.

“You look beautiful Susan,” he said, kissing her hand. He’d seen his dad charm women of all ages that way. Even McGonagall blushed when Sirius decided to be all gentlemanly towards her.

“Thank you,” she said blushing. Her usual straight red hair was curled, most of it pulled back in a tight ponytail, with some loose locks surrounding her face, and she had on a pale yellow robe of some light floaty material.

Harry extended his arm and she hooked hers through it. He guided her to where McGonagall was calling the champions, and when his gaze left his date to look at the others, he did a double take. Hermione was Victor Krum’s date, and she looked completely different with her sleek and shiny hair twisted in an elegant knot at the back of her head and robes made of a floaty periwinkle-blue material. She was definitely not the bookworm he was used to seeing.

“Hermione, you look good,” he said.

She blushed and said, “Thanks Harry.”

Harry looked at Krum seriously and said, “You better take good care of her Krum, or you’ll have to contend with me, Nev, Ron and,” he smiled evilly motioning with his head to where Sirius was guiding the students in, “my dad and Uncle.”

Krum looked at Sirius and gulped, apparently he had heard of the Marauder’s fame, “Don’t vorry Potter.”

“Potter Black.”

“Potter Black, sorry. Don’t vorry. I have nothing but the best intentions towards Hermowninny.”

“Good,” Harry smiled and Hermione smiled back at him.

Harry and Susan greeted Cedric and Cho Chang, and also exchanged pleasantries with Fleur and Roger Davies. Davies had eyed Harry a little nervously, which Harry couldn’t believe.

“I didn’t know you spoke French,” Susan said as they waited for the rest of the students to arrive.

“Dad and Uncle Remus taught me. Uncle Remus knows a bunch of languages and he thinks it’s important to know more than one. I figured it would be nice to greet Fleur in her native language, as she always seems like she is having such a horrible time here and missing home,” he shrugged.

“She is a little stuck up,” Susan whispered and Harry chuckled nodding. “I don’t think Ron is too happy either,” she said a little worried as Ron passed the champions with Parvati without looking at them, and with what looked like a scowl. Harry frowned worried at that.

Once everyone was seated, McGonagall told the champions to get in line in pairs and follow her. As they entered the Hall, everyone applauded them and Harry was a little uncomfortable, but at the same time was pleased to see that Susan wasn’t all that chuffed with the attention. He had chosen wisely. They approached a large round table at the top of the Great Hall, where the judges were sitting. Harry nodded to Professors Dumbledore and Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Ludo Bagman and he did another double take when he saw Mr. Crouch’s seat was being occupied by Percy Weasley.

Susan sat next to Percy, and Harry next to her. He couldn’t help it, he had to ask, “What are you doing here Percy?”

“Mr. Crouch is ill so he sent me to represent him since I’ve been promoted to his personal assistant,” Percy said as if he was announcing he was king of England.

“Oh, that’s nice,” Susan said pleasantly, but she and Harry exchanged looks and bit their lips.

Percy was about to start talking when someone came behind him and said, “Hey there Percy. Why don’t you go sit with your brothers?”

“I am Mr. Crouch’s assistant,” he started but he was cut off.

“Of course you are, and one heck of a good one. It’s just, I don’t think I can keep the twins in check, and they were talking about spiking something or another and you know, I’ve always respected how they just obey you without a second’s thought. I mean,” he looked like he was looking for the right words, “That’s just beautiful.”

Percy puffed his chest out and said, “Of course Professor. It will be my pleasure to make sure they don’t embarrass the school,” and he left allowing a smiling Sirius to  take his place.

Harry narrowed his eyes at his dad but Sirius was unfazed, “So Ms. Bones, how has your night been?” he asked.

“Very nice thank you, Professor and yours?”

As dinner unfolded, Harry tried really hard to pay attention to the other people at the table talking and not on his father telling Susan one embarrassing childhood story after another. When Sirius got to the time when Harry chased a toy snitch around the castle naked, Harry wondered if he could drown himself in his goblet of butterbeer.

XXXXXX

“Nice setup,” said a voice from behind him, and Remus smiled widely as the witch took the seat next to him. Her hair was black and in a tight knot tonight, but there were a few light gold strands that made it look like it was glittering. She had black flowing robes that outlined her body.

“Nymphadora, what brings you here?”

 “Professor Dumbledore asked for more security,” she shrugged. “But I’m the only Auror here. Go figure, the man is barmy.”

“Well, at least you get to have a nice time,” he said, “And will you grant an old man the pleasure of being seen dancing in such beautiful company?”

She smiled and said, “Of course. I’ll make sure to save a dance for Professor Dumbledore.”

“I was talking about me.”

“You’re hardly old Remus.”

“Compared to you I am.”

“Compared to anyone you are still quite young and handsome,” she smiled and he blushed.

“You’ll have to stop that Ms. Tonks,” McGonagall said smirking behind her whine glass, “Or poor Remus will melt from the heat in his face.”

XXXXX

Those dancing lessons paid off, Harry thought as he waltzed around with Susan. This was really good and he was enjoying himself. They had chatted non-stop about many things while dancing. He was pleased to know she was a Quidditch nut like himself. She didn’t play, she said she was horrible at it, but she loved to watch it. They were twirling around, and had to stop abruptly when a pair of hands holding two bottles of butterbeer appeared in front of their faces.

“Thirsty?” Sirius asked innocently.

Harry glared at him, “Don’t you have anywhere else to be dad?” he asked through gritted teeth.

Sirius shrugged, “Well, I saw you here dancing and thought, hum, the kids must be thirsty. Oh, hi Moony. What are you doing? Moony!” Sirius cried as he was dragged away to Harry’s pleasure.

“Leave the kids alone Sirius,” they heard Remus scold.

“I guess Professor Black isn’t taking the idea of you with a date very well,” Susan chuckled.

“At least you can find the humor in it,” Harry rolled his eyes, exasperated. “If it was up to dad, I’d still be in diapers being carried around.”

She laughed and Harry shook his head. They continued dancing until Susan said, “I think Professor Black has found another target.”

Harry looked to where she was pointing and saw Sirius pulling the butterbeer trick on Hermione and Krum. Remus had to intervene again and dragged Sirius to a chair in the corner. He was saying something they didn’t hear and shaking his finger at Sirius, who was looking mutinous. Remus left and joined a laughing Tonks in the middle of the dance floor.

“Who’s that dancing with Professor Lupin?” Susan asked.

“Oh, that’s my cousin Nymphadora Tonks,” Harry answered. “But don’t call her Nymphadora or she’ll skin you alive.”

“They make a nice couple,” she smiled.

“What?” Harry asked, looking at Tonks and Remus who were dancing and laughing. “Nah, they are just friends.”

“They may be, but I bet she wouldn’t mind being more,” Susan said knowingly.

“You think?” Harry frowned, still looking at them. “Uncle Moony and Tonks?” Harry shook his head and decided to turn back to his own date with a smile.

XXXXXXXX

Sirius was sulking in a chair, arms crossed and mumbling, “Leave the kids alone,” he mocked. “My poor baby and that, that, woman. I bet she’s a gold digger just waiting to take advantage of his innocence. I know what I’m talk-“ he stopped as Severus stalked in and quickly shot him a significant look. He got up and walked to the refreshment table calmly, keeping an eye on Severus who had stopped next to Dumbledore. After Severus and Dumbledore talked, which no one would have assumed to be anything of importance, Severus inconspicuously left the Great Hall. Sirius shot one last menacing glare to where Harry and Susan were dancing and laughing, and another to Krum, that boy better watch out, he was way too old for Hermione. Of course, he couldn’t use that argument with Moony when he was trying to get him and Tonks together, but it was different. Why couldn’t Hermione have come with Ron or Neville? Ginny was with Neville; there was no worries there. He huffed for good measure and stalked out of the Hall. Great, no one would think twice about it.

He walked calmly back to his quarters and sure enough, when he opened the portrait door Severus was there.

“What gives?” Sirius asked.

“Karkaroff cornered me again. He’s worried, scared. I told him to flee if he wants to, but that I’ll stay at Hogwarts.”

Sirius nodded seriously and sat down, “Do you think he will?”

“I don’t know,” Severus exhaled as he too took a seat. “I told Albus and he just twinkled as usual,” he finished annoyed.

“I think we better keep an eye on him,” Sirius said grimly. “I’m not yet sure he isn’t the one that put Harry’s name in the Goblet.”

“He wouldn’t be this scared if he had,” Severus reasoned.

“You know better than anyone that he could be faking it,” Sirius pointed out. “And if he’s not, then it makes me more worried. Cornered animals are very dangerous, Severus.”

Severus nodded grimly.

Xxxxxxxx

“Next time there’s a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!” Hermione shrieked and stalked up to her dorm.

Ron gaped at her and turned to Neville, Harry and Ginny, who had all witnessed the end of the fight, spluttering, “Well, that just proves – completely missed the point-“ and he too went up to his dorm at a more sedated pace.

“What point did she miss?” Harry asked the others, bewildered.

“Ron has been mumbling all night about Hermione consorting with the enemy,” Neville explained. “But I don’t think she was. If Viktor is nice there is no problem with her going out with him.”

“He’s jealous, that’s the problem,” Ginny huffed. “She’s right though, he should have asked her first. Poor Parvati ended up having a horrible time until she ditched Ron for a Beauxbatons’ boy.” She eyed Harry and asked, “You seemed to have a nice time, didn’t even remember us lowly mortals.”

Harry’s face fell and he mumbled, “I’m sorry,” ducking his head.

“Oh, Harry,” she shoved him. “I’m teasing you. I’m glad you had fun. We didn’t hang around Ron after the dance started either, and had a lot of fun didn’t we Neville? I never imagined you  could dance so well.”

Neville blushed, “Yeah, I loved the time we had. Thanks.”

She kissed his cheek, waved at Harry and said happily, “Good night to you two.”

“So you had fun?” Neville asked.

“Tons, especially after Uncle Moony dragged dad away. What else happened that I missed?”

“Nothing much. Dinner was spent between hearing Ron mumble, and Percy talk about his new job and scold the twins because they were plotting about how to talk to Bagman. They tried but didn’t have much success.”

“Why?”

“Beats me,” Neville shrugged.

XXXXXXXX

He opened the portrait door quietly and took his shoes off to prevent making any noise. He tiptoed to his bedroom in the dark, and was touching the doorknob when the lights went on, and he jumped as Sirius said with a smirk:

“Coming in late aren’t we?”

“Sirius, hum, why us- er. I was overseeing that all the students were back in their dorms. Yes, that’s it!” Remus said pleased with himself.

“Oh, were you?” Sirius asked innocently. “Because when I left, most of the students had already left. There were only a few loner couples still dancing, and you and my dear cousin were one of those couples.”

“We were?” Remus asked fidgeting with his shoes. “Didn’t notice.”

“Had a good time?” Sirius asked cheekily.

“Of course. It’s always nice to dance and chat with a friend.”

“And…”

“And nothing Sirius. Wipe that smirk off your face and get your mind out of the gutter. Nymphadora is a lady and we are just friends. Besides I am way too old for her-“

“Puft, what’s thirteen years when you live to be two hundred?” Sirius shrugged.

“I am amazed at you Sirius. You were all over the kids tonight, and here you are trying to encourage some, some… fling, between me and your baby cousin.”

“I am not encouraging just a fling here, Moony,” Sirius said waving his hand. “I am trying to encourage something much deeper. So, did something much deeper happen?” he asked eagerly.

Remus straightened up huffing, and in a very dignified voice he said, “I am a perfect gentleman Sirius. We only danced and talked, and afterwards I escorted Ms. Tonks to the Apparition point.”

“No good night kiss?”

“Sirius!”

“Aw.”

Remus huffed once again and opened his door. He stalked in and banged the door shut. Sirius pouted but smiled again, bouncing on his feet when the door opened waiting eagerly for the juicy details.

“I heard Diggory telling Harry to take a bath with his egg. I think Harry understood it better than our vague hints, because he said he would at the first opportunity and thanked Diggory.”

“Good,” Sirius exhaled deeply.

“Good night,” Remus said shutting the door, and Sirius raised his finger at the door:

“But Moony!”

That got him no answer whatsoever.